ATLANTA — Coach Paul Johnson said Monday that the Georgia Tech players who joined a show of solidarity for NCAA reform should have first given all players on the team a chance to vote on the idea.

Johnson said coaches and most players had no idea quarterback Vad Lee, linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu and a few other players were carrying the letters APU — for All Players United — on wristbands in Saturday’s 28-20 win over North Carolina. Johnson says he first learned of the message after the game.

Georgia Tech’s defense stiffened after allowing three first-half touchdowns and the Yellow Jackets rallied to beat North Carolina 28-20 on a soggy Saturday.

David Sims ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns and Robert Godhigh had 100 yards rushing for Georgia Tech.

The game was played in a steady rain and a far different pace than one year ago. Defense was an afterthought in Georgia Tech’s 68-50 win at North Carolina last year in the highest-scoring game in Atlantic Coast Conference history.

ATLANTA — David Sims ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns and Georgia Tech recovered after North Carolina scored the first two touchdowns to beat the Tar Heels 28-20 on Saturday.

Georgia Tech (3-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) earned its eighth straight home win in the series. North Carolina (1-2, 0-1) has not won at Bobby Dodd Stadium since 1997. Overall, Georgia Tech has won eight of the last nine in the series.

Vad Lee's 1-yard run gave Georgia Tech its first lead at 21-20 in the third quarter. Sims' 6-yard scoring run added to the lead early in the fourth quarter.

FLOWERY BRANCH — There’s a good reason Jason Snelling has stuck around for seven seasons with the Atlanta Falcons despite starting only five games in that span.

Snelling’s value is his versatility, a strength which again became a key after the Falcons were hit with a rash of injuries this week. Fullback Bradie Ewing separated his left shoulder and was lost for the season. Running back Steven Jackson hurt his hamstring and was lost for at least one game.

ATLANTA — North Carolina began spending extra practice time on Georgia Tech’s spread option offense over the summer. More opportunity for added preparation came with an off week before today’s game.

Tar Heels coach Larry Fedora had good motivation to devote the extra attention to the game. North Carolina’s defense was overwhelmed in a 68-50 loss to Georgia Tech last season that was the highest-scoring game in Atlantic Coast Conference history.

Vad Lee threw four touchdown passes in last week’s win at Duke. Before that performance, no Georgia Tech quarterback had thrown four TD passes in a game since 2006 — two years before Johnson’s arrival as coach.

Georgia Tech ranked at or near the top of the nation’s rushing leaders and near the bottom of the passing stats in Johnson’s first five seasons.

FLOWERY BRANCH — The Atlanta Falcons were looking for two new starters on Monday after losing defensive end Kroy Biermann and fullback Bradie Ewing to season-ending injuries.

Biermann tore his right Achilles tendon and Ewing separated his left shoulder in Sunday’s 31-24 win over the St. Louis Rams. Coach Mike Smith said Monday each will be placed on the reserve injured list.

“As I say many times, one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity and we’ve got some guys that we expect are going to step up and make some plays for us,” Smith said.